Improvement in fishing apparatus



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\ P. H. FERL ANDf-W. LARKINS, OFDETROIT, MICHIGAN.

"IMPROVEMENT IN FISHMING APPARATUS..

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 56,917, dated August 7, 1866.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, PETER H. FERL and WILLIAM LAEKlNs, of the city of Detroit, county of Wayne, and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful machine for netfishing in deep water from wharves or vessels at anchor or in motion, and which we style Ferl and Larkins Vertical Deep-Water-Fishing Machine 5 and we do .hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and the letters of reference marked thereon- Figure 1 being a perspective View of the entire `machine in position for use, Fig. 2 being a vertical section of one of the arms, showing both spring and lower rope, Fig. 3 being a vertical section of tube and chamber below, and Fig. 4 being an inverted view of the machine without the net.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use this our invention, we will proceed to describe both its construction and operation.

' We first construct a wrought-iron or other metallic tube (marked A in the drawings) with a diameter of about seven (7) inches and a length of about two (2) feet and six (6) inches, and about one-quarter of an inch in thickness. In the upper end thereof we form or turn a cap (marked B in the drawings) of from six to ten inches wide, or large enough for the reception of -the outer end of an ordinary vessels boom, upon the end of which boom said cap is fastened by three adjustable screws, (marked b b b in the drawings, as shown in Fig. 3.) At the base of `this tube we construct a flange (marked C in Fig. 3) three inches wide, or thereabout, and of the same material as the tube, and riveted thereto by half-inch rivets, which iiange is received into a chamber, (marked D, as the same appears in a reverse position thereof in Fig. 4.) This chamber (marked D, as above) is formed by a wrought-iron circular band about two inches wide and a quarter of an inch thick, which is placed upon a bottom of three-eighth inch iron, which bottom is held in place vby an inner courseof rivets, (marked c in the drawings, as shown in Fig. 3,) formed from the lower ends of the inner course of staples, (marked E in the drawings, as shown in Fig.

3,) which staples hold in place the arms, (marked F in the drawings, as shown in Fig. 3,) as hereinafter described. ber is likewise formed of quarter-inch, or thereabout, wrought-iron, is round in shape, but extends beyond the band or rim. about nine inches and far enough to receive into it the outer course of rivets, (marked b b b in the drawings, as shown in Fig. 3,) which are formed from the lower ends of the outer course of staples, (marked H in the drawings, as shown in Fig. 3,) and which also aid in holding in place the arms marked F, as above. Through the center of the entire chamber isan opening or hole (marked I in the drawings, :as shown in Fig. 4) about four inches in diameter, and designed for the purpose of passing certain ropes through the same, as ,hereinafter described. The office of the chamber (marked D, as above) is to allow the frame or wheel composed of the various arms (marked F as above) to revolve horizontally either way round the flange (marked C, as above) and tube, (marked A, as above,) which revolution facilitates the hanging of the net at the ends of the arms, as hereinafter described.

. Around the tube A and on top of the chamber D are set ten or more arms, F, (but in Fig. 4 eight arms only are given,) according to the size of net to be used in connection with the machine, which arms are composed of pine or other timber about two by four inches square and from twelve to twenty-iive feet in length, and radiating from tube A as from a common center. The inner ends of these arms are located sufciently distant from the tube A to allow their combined revolution around said tube without friction upon it, and they pass through the inner course of about half-inch half-round iron staples, (marked E in the drawings, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4,) and which staples act as rivets on their lower end, as already described. Another course of similar staples (marked H, as above) is constructed and so placed as to steady the arms F at about eight inches from the innercourse and near to the circumference of the chamber D, through which they are riveted, as above described.

All these arms can be set or unset at pleasure by slipping them in or out from under these staples for the purpose of use, or storing when The top of this cham-v not in use. These staple-fastenings are all the braces ordinarily needed to hold the arms in place, except in cases where the arms are of such extra length as to render additional bracing necessary. This bracing maybe made by pieces of iron running from the center of each arm to a movable iiange which is placed around the top, but below the cap, of the tube, and rests on four stay-bolts let into the tube.

Around the tube A and over the inner ends K of the arms F we construct a weather-cap, of

zinc or other metal, (marked K, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3,) of the same size as the top of the chamber D, and covering the outer course of staples. This cap slides up and down on the tube A, as required.

Longitudinally through the center of each arm is a round cavity of tive-eighths of an inch width, extendin g inwardly about twelve inches, as shown in Fig. 2 in the drawings. At the upper or inner end of this cavity is inserted a one -sixteenth of an inch brass-wire spiral spring, (marked L, as shown in Fig. 2,) and lying at length; then a round live-eighth-inch iron bolt (marked M, as shown in Fig. 2) is inserted in this cavity, after and up to the end of the said spring, leaving exposed beyond the end of the arm F one inch ofthe bolts length when unsprung.

From a pointcommencing at the inner end of the bolt M, where the same extends one inch, and on the under side of the arm F and in the center thereof, a slit is made, as seenin Fig. 2 in the drawings, about two inches long and three-eighths of an inch wide. Into the inner end of the bolt M there is screwed from below, through the slit last described, a threeeighth-inch bolt, (marked m, as seen in Fig. 2 in the drawings,) with a flat head. This bolt m extends downward below the lower surface of the arm about three-eighths of an inch, and to the head of this bolt m is attached a rope, (marked N, as seen in Fig. 2,) by means of which the bolt M is drawn against the spring L within the arm, for the purpose hereinafter described.

To the head of each bolt m as placed, with its spring L in the interior of each arm, is attached a quarter of an inch rope, extending inwardly and along the lower side of each arm, but in no wise attached thereto, except at the head of the bolt m, as above described, and. passing through the tube 1 in the bottom of the chamber D and into the tube A, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 in the drawings. Here they are severally united to a swivel, (marked O in f the drawings, as shown in Fig. 3,) about Aon a line with the top of the chamber D. From the swivel upward through the tubeA, and passing over a pulley (marked P in the drawings, in Fig. 3 at the lower part and inner side of the -cap o the tube, and fastened by bolts to its it runs over a block-pulley (marked S in the drawings, as shown in Fig. 1) and falls to the deck. To the end of this rope R is attached a lever, (marked T in the drawings, as shown in Fig. 1,) a strain or pull on which simultaneously withdraws every bolt into the cavity of each arm and accomplishes the main purpose of this invention. v

We next construct a net of the ordinary form of netting, circular in shape, with a perpendicular hanging fringe, four or six feet in depth, around the entire circle. This dropfringe is joined directly onto a three-eighthinoh rope, (marked V in the drawings, as shown in Fig. 1,) which forms the extreme outer circumference of the horizontal part of the net when spread under the arms, and by this rope V the net is suspended on the ends of the bolts M. A suflicient number of lead sinkers are attached to and around the lower rim or edge of said drop-fringe, so as to sink the net to any desired depth of water. Along and around the lower edge of this drop-fringe are attached metal rings about one inch in diameter and from two to three feet apart, and one of these rings is fastened to the end of the rope (marked U, as seen in Fig. 1) which runs through all the remaining rings of the series, and which rope, when drawn, closes the net.

In order to expedite the delivery of the fish I from this net, we do not net clear across the center, but join the loops at or near the center onto a running string, by loosening which an opening may be speedily had, and in that part of the net where the fish gather after the drag. `This is a mere matter of convenience, and may or may not be used in the construction of the net. It is not shown in the drawings.

We then spread this net under the entire circle of the arms F and hang it loosely on the projected bolts M, at the ends of the arms, by the rope V, so as to drop its fringe perpendicularly all around the machine, as above described. The net being thus suspended, a single pull upon the rope R by the lever T simultaneously withdraws each bolt M into the end 'of each arm, and the net at once drops, carried down by its weights or sinkers, and descends into the water in precisely the same shape as it had when suspended on the arms. When the net shall have reached the proper depth, apull on the rope U immediately closes the mouth of the net and brings it, with its contents, directly to the surface.

This machine can be used in rivers, lakes, or oceans, and is especially adapted to use in fast-running streams and over bad and rough bottoms, where the descent of the net can be graduated so as not to reach the same. It may also be used from any vessel when in motion or at anchor, and also from docks or piers,-

thus being particularly desirable and convenient for naval vessels on their stations oroceanvessels on long voyages.

Another advantage is found in the ease with which this forin of net is closed and drawn in as compared with the ordinary forms of nets heretofore in use.

What We claim as our invention, and desire t0 secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A net of the form and construction herein substantially described.

2. The construction and combination of the tube A, the arms F, the bolts M, with the springs, ropes, and pulleys, substantially as herein described. Y

3. The combination of the tube A, the arms F, the bolts M, and the springs, ropes, and pulleys, substantially as herein described, with the net, for the purpose of spreading, casting, and sinking the same, substantially as described, and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

Dated Detroit, Michigan, June 8, 1866.

. PETER H. FEEL.

WILLIAM LARKINS. In presence of- J. A. S. OULLEN, HENRY M. DUFFIELD. 

